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Even as the controversy surrounding 'Har Har Modi' slogan is yet to die down, supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi have released a new poster in the temple town of Modi using a "modified" version of a 'shloka' eulogising Goddess Durga.
The poster to greet the people ahead of Navratri, a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, carries a picture of Modi showing a victory sign and a "modified" version of a 'shloka' of Durga Saptshati, a religious text describing Durga's victory demon Mahishasura.
It says, "Ya Modi Sarvbhuteshu, Rashtrarupen Sansithah, namastasye, namastasye Namo Namah (Modi who resides in every human being in the form of rashtra (nation), I salute him again and again."
The Durga Saptshati 'shloka' goes like "Ya devi sarvbhuteshu matra rupen sansithta, namastasye namastasye namastasye namo namah".
When contacted, the Kashi region convenor of BJP Sahitya and Prakashan Prakoshth, Ashok Chaurasia, claimed the original 'shloka' has not been distorted and this is a new one and reflects the people's sentiments towards Modi.
"The poster released by us on Thursday is our personal view and not that of BJP," he said, "We assume that Modi as the Prime Minister will strengthen Indian economy and will keep Indian borders safe..."
Earlier, Modi, who is contesting from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, had to step in and ask his supporters not to chant "Har Har Modi" slogan through his tweet amid mounting pressures from political opponents, seers and saints.
Image: Modi had earlier asked his supporters not to chant ‘Har Har Modi’ slogan
Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters